NPA Is Failing at the Most Basic Prosecutions

Dear Editor

While the DA welcomes the successful private prosecution by AfriForum on a common assault case that the NPA declined to prosecute, this outcome is an indictment on the NPA, which is now failing to do even the simplest part of their job.

After the NPA failed to take forward a matter of assault, AfriForum’s private prosecution team secured a conviction against a man who assaulted his neighbour. In addition to this, the Court has ordered that NPA pay the private prosecution cost.

Not only this, but according to reports, the NPA did not even take steps to monitor the case or join the prosecution or take charge of the prosecution for the sentencing of the offender following the successful conviction.

The private prosecution sadly paints a picture of an NPA not only failing to prosecute corruption, but also failing on the simplest matters. This begs the question of what exactly they are doing, if not to hold criminals to account.

With the state of affairs, this is not the first nor will it be the last private prosecution where private organisations are being forced to step in where the NPA is failing. We call on the NPA to do some serious introspection as to why they declined to prosecute this simple case and in addition why they took no steps to monitor the private prosecution of this simple assault case.

The NPA needs to remind themselves of their core mandate: deliver and serve justice, without fear, favour or prejudice.

Regards

Adv. Glynnis Breytenbach MP
DA Spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development